French-Togolese architect Jeanne Autran-Edorh, who is a lead architect at Kéré Architecture, will be WAC's new guest architect in WAC's Live Interview Series.

Titled Re-reading Local Knowledge Through The New Modes Of Practice, Autran-Edorh will discuss the significance of local knowledge, the importance of using of locally-sourced materials and collaborative building processes that lead innovative construction techniques in architecture. 

Jeanne Autran-Edorh is the name behind the two significant projects of the studio; Benin's new National Assembly building in Porto-Novo and the Thomas Sankara Memorial in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

In WAC's live talk, Autran-Edorh will also discuss the details and processes of these two projects alongside the Tippet Rise Art Center Pavilion in Fishtail, Montana which was completed in 2019. 

Jeanne Autran-Edorh will be in conversation with WAC editor-in-chief Berrin Chatzi Chousein on Thursday, March 18th on WAC's Instagram account. 

Jeanne Autran-Edorh, lead architect at Kéré Architecture in Berlin. Image courtesy of Kéré Architecture. 

Kéré Architecture was founded by socially-minded Burkinese architect Francis Kéré in Berlin in 2005. The studio's project portfolio spans all sizes and types of projects, starting from civic infrastructure to temporary installations in Germany and across the African continent.

Embracing local and participatory design approach, the studio believes in the power of local knowledge and collaborative building processes that stimulate creativity and uniqueness to avoid of dominant norms. 

Jeanne Autran-Edorh joined the studio after having worked for international renowned architecture practices including Herzog & de Meuron and Ateliers Jean Nouvel.

Having a particular interest in the rise of a new African contemporary architecture and explorations into material innovation and collaborative building processes, Jeanne Autran-Edorh has most recently brought this particular sensibility to lead the design process of the Kéré Architecture’s large civic projects, including the Benin National Assembly and the Thomas Sankara Memorial in Burkina Faso.

Benin's National Assembly building by Kéré Architecture. Construction is expected to start on March and is scheduled to be completed at the end of 2023. Image courtesy of Kéré Architecture.

Working closely with Francis Kéré in each project, she has developed an architectural language rooted in a building’s environment and inspired by vernacular craftsmanship to arrive at designs that are confident in their geometry, which is balanced with thoughtfully placed organic lines.

The 2017 Serpentine Pavilion in London's Kensington Gardens, the Gando Primary School in Burkina Faso, the Lycée Schorge Secondary School in Koudougou, Burkina Faso, the National Park of Mali in Bamako, Mali, the National Assembly of Burkina Faso are among the studio's key projects. 

WAC's live interviews are held as 20-30-minute sessions to deliver a quick glimpse of the current projects of the architect and the office and provide a fast-paced discussion on the architects' design philosophy.

WAC Instagram Live Interview

Theme: Re-reading Local Knowledge Through The New Modes Of Practice

Host: Berrin Chatzi Chousein, WAC editor-in-chief

Date: Thursday, March 18th/ 12:00pm (GMT) / 13:00pm (CET) 

Venue: WAC Instagram